Let's move to: Saddleworth, Greater Manchester

Friday 9 December 2011 17.59 EST
First published on Friday 9 December 2011 17.59 EST

What's going for it? You'll hear people in Manchester refer to it – as in, "Oooh, she lives up in Saddleworth" – but you'll search in vain for it on the map. They mention it on Corrie, and you'll see road signs. But you never really seem to get to a place called Saddleworth. It's more a collective noun for a straggle of small towns and villages clinging, down deep valleys, to the side of Saddleworth Moor. Saddleworth is, perhaps, less a place than a state of mind, a sort of Guardian-reading, Sunday-walk-along-the-canal, comfortably-off state of mind. Imagine one of Ken Barlow's artsier friends – beads, floral blouse, a retired lecturer perhaps, with a taste for stirring views, a converted 19th-century stone mill and a place on the parish committee. Yes, they're very community minded here. I doubt they have an evening off with all the brass band competitions, morris dancing festivals and nights out at the White Rose Society. That's right, white. The Lancashire/Yorkshire border's flopped about that much, there are folks round here who'll defend to the hilt their right to blow a mournful euphonium. You do realise I'm taking my life in my hands calling this Greater Manchester?

The case against The shadow of the Moors Murders still looms large when you mention the name. The sun seems to disappear at about 12.03pm (I'm exaggerating, but only slightly).

Well connected? Hourly trains to Greenfield from Manchester Victoria (23 mins); 21 mins the other way to Huddersfield; an hour with a change to Leeds. Trams are slowly heading Oldhamwards from Manchester. One day! Only 10 mins from the M62.

Hang out at... Lydgate's White Hart inn: you could be in the Peak District.

Where to buy Gorgeous old stone-fronted property, from the odd farmhouse to converted weaving mills to semis and detacheds of all ages. On the upper slopes are the poshest, but you can't go wrong with the village hearts. Prices drop a lot into the suburbs of Oldham.

Bargain of the week Period three-bed semi in Delph needing upgrading, £155,000, with Ryder & Dutton.

From the streets

Helen Rigby "Bleak but beautiful Pennine landscape; a favourite walk is round Dovestone Reservoir. Each village has a strong identity and in most cases its own brass band. Good place to eat: the Albion Farm Cafe outside Delph (they also have a great farm shop)."

Helen Ryan-Atkin "From most places in Saddleworth you can walk to the high moors, have a good tramp with the wind and sky raging, then finish off with a delicious pint of local brew in one of the fabulous hill-top pubs – Church Inn, Cross Keys and Royal Oak in Heights particularly recommended."

Royce Franklin "Wonderful people. Hourly trains with very old carriages to Manchester and Huddersfield. But part of one of the most deprived boroughs in the north."

Tom Robinson "Brilliant real ale pubs, and a lovely collection of villages which have names like the firemen from Trumpton."

• Live in Saddleworth? Join the debate below.

Do you live in Southwell, Nottinghamshire? Do you have a favourite haunt or a pet hate? If so, please write, by Tuesday 13 December, to lets.move@theguardian.com